Poor Vehicle Headlights A Common Cause of Car Accidents, Study Finds

Attorneys serving West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio explain why

Good vehicle headlights can help reduce the likelihood of drivers being involved in a car accident, according to a recent, in-depth study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

A crash scene at night in the city. Two smashed vehicles on the side of the road with a police car blocking traffic in the street.

“These real-world results show that better scores in our headlight tests translate into safer nighttime driving on the road, which is of course what really matters,” said IIHS Senior Research Engineer Matthew Brumbelow, who conducted the study.

How do headlights prevent car accidents?

The IIHS recently conducted a comprehensive study for motor vehicle headlights. Researchers examined the headlights for 187 vehicles from model years 2015 to 2020. In the study, researchers compared the distance, illumination power, and correct angulation for different vehicle headlights. The IIHS then rated vehicle headlights “good,” “acceptable,” “marginal” or “poor” based on how well they illuminated objects in the distance.

In addition, IIHS researchers reviewed accident data for the 187 vehicle models in 11 states which occurred at night. This detailed analysis involved reviewing accident data from 44,000 nighttime crashes.

Based on this study, researchers found that good-quality headlights reduced accidents by 19 percent compared to poor-quality headlights. Acceptable and marginal headlights reduced accidents by 15 percent and 10 percent compared to poor-quality headlights. “This is the first study to document how much headlights that provide better illumination can help,” Brumbelow said.

Why do car accidents happen at night?

Numerous studies have found that drivers are much more likely to be involved in a car accident at night versus during daytime hours. “Driving at night is 3 times as risky as driving during the day,” Brumbelow said.

Part of this has to do with poor visibility at night versus during the day. However, other factors also often come into play when it comes to the increased likelihood of a serious accident occurring at night versus the day. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has extensively studied this issue. Other factors include:

Not wearing a seatbelt, which is more common among drivers at night versus drivers during daytime hours.
Being under the influence of alcohol, which is more common among nighttime drivers.
Speeding, which is a contributing factor in more accidents at night versus accidents during the day.

Whatever the circumstances involving your nighttime car accident, make sure you fully understand your rights. Make sure you talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

How can a lawyer help me?

When you have an attorney helping with your car accident claim, you can demand the money you rightfully deserve for medical bills, vehicle repairs, replacement income, and other accident-related expenses.

Insurance companies often do everything they can to deny injury claims. This is because you may be entitled to receive thousands of dollars or significantly more. That’s why you need the Recht Law Offices on your side.

Since 1952, our law firm has been fighting for the rights of people injured in accidents caused by other drivers. We have extensive experience handling accident claims in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. As a result, we have an in-depth understanding of how the legal system works in all three states.

Don’t take chances with your future. Take action. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a car accident lawyer you can trust to put your best interests first. We have offices conveniently located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Weirton, West Virginia.